VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

Change a Virtual Machine Display Name in VMware Workstation Player

Learn how to change a VMware Workstation Player VM display name without renaming its host folder, configuration file, or virtual disks.

VMware Workstation Player lets you change the name shown for a virtual machine (VM) in its library. This is a display-name change: it improves organization in Player without renaming the VM directory or the files stored on the host computer.

What the virtual machine display name controls

A virtual machine (VM) is a software-defined computer with virtual hardware and a guest operating system. VMware Workstation Player is the desktop application used to run and manage local VMs.

The virtual machine display name is the label shown for a VM in the VMware Workstation Player library and management interface. Changing it can make generic or similar entries easier to identify.

This operation does not rename the complete VM on disk. The VM directory, configuration file, virtual disks, logs, snapshots, and other related files retain their existing names and locations.

Prerequisites

  • The target VM must already be available in the VMware Workstation Player library.
  • Power off the VM before changing its settings. A powered-on, suspended, or locked VM may have unavailable or restricted settings.
  • You need permission to modify the VM configuration and write to the VM's host-side location.
  • Know the difference between the host operating system, where the VM files are stored, and the guest operating system running inside the VM.

Change the VMware Workstation Player display name

  1. Select the desired VM in the VMware Workstation Player library.
  2. Open the VM management area from the Player menu.
  3. Choose Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings.
  4. In the settings dialog, open the Options tab.
  5. Select the General category.
  6. Find the Virtual machine name field.
  7. Replace the existing value with the label you want displayed in Player.
  8. Confirm or save the change, then return to the VM library.
Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings > Options > General

For example, you could change a broad library label such as Ubuntu to Ubuntu 22.04 Development. The existing VM folder and virtual disk filenames remain unchanged.

Verify the result

  1. Return to the VMware Workstation Player library.
  2. Confirm that the selected VM now appears with the new display name.
  3. Launch the VM if needed. A display-name-only change does not alter normal VM operation or the guest operating system.

You can also reopen Virtual Machine Settings > Options > General to verify the value saved in the Virtual machine name field.

What changes and what does not

Item: Name shown in the VMware Workstation Player library
Changes? Yes
Explanation: The library and Player interface use the new display label.

Item: VM directory name on the host
Changes? No
Explanation: The host-side folder keeps its previous name and location.

Item: VM configuration filename
Changes? No
Explanation: The VM definition file, commonly ending in .vmx, is not renamed.

Item: Virtual disk filenames
Changes? No
Explanation: File-based disks, commonly ending in .vmdk, retain their existing names.

Item: Guest operating system computer name
Changes? No
Explanation: The guest hostname must be changed separately using the guest operating system's administration tools.

Item: Backup or script paths
Changes? No
Explanation: Existing host filesystem paths used by backups, scripts, shortcuts, or integrations are not automatically updated.

Display-name rename versus filesystem rename

A display-name change is appropriate when you want clearer library labels, better organization, or a way to distinguish similar environments. For example, two Windows test VMs could be labeled Windows 11 - Clean and Windows 11 - Test Apps.

Rename type: VMware display name
Where it is changed: VMware Workstation Player, under Virtual Machine Settings > Options > General
Typical purpose: Organize the VM library and distinguish similar machines
Risk or consideration: Low impact; host files and paths remain unchanged

Rename type: Host folder or file rename
Where it is changed: The host operating system's file manager or maintenance tools
Typical purpose: Perform a separate filesystem reorganization or migration
Risk or consideration: Configuration-file path references, backups, scripts, shortcuts, and integrations may require updates

Rename type: Guest operating system hostname
Where it is changed: Administration tools inside the guest operating system
Typical purpose: Change the computer's identity on the guest network or within the guest OS
Risk or consideration: Network discovery, domain membership, certificates, or services may be affected

Renaming the VM folder or individual VM files is a separate maintenance task. Do not manually rename them while the VM is running, and do not do so without understanding references in the VM configuration file. A display-name edit is safer when your goal is only to improve the Player library label.

Troubleshooting

The new name is not visible in the library

  • Reopen the selected VM's General settings and check the entered value.
  • Confirm that the change was saved or confirmed.
  • Make sure you edited the intended VM rather than another library entry.
  • Return to the library to refresh the view. If necessary, restart Player and check again.

The folder, .vmx file, or .vmdk files still have the old name

This is expected. Only the VMware display name was changed. Do not rename files merely to make them match the library label unless you are carrying out a separate, planned filesystem migration.

The name field cannot be edited

  • Shut down the guest operating system and make sure the VM is powered off rather than suspended.
  • Close competing VMware sessions that may have locked the VM.
  • Check that your host account has write permission for the VM directory and its configuration files.

The guest operating system name did not change

The Player display name is not the guest hostname or computer name. Change that identity separately using the guest operating system's administration tools.

Summary

To change a VM's label in VMware Workstation Player, select the VM and open Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings > Options > General. Edit Virtual machine name, save the setting, and verify the new label in the library. This does not rename the VM directory, .vmx configuration file, .vmdk virtual disks, guest hostname, or host-side backup paths.

For related organization guidance, see changing the virtual machine name.